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This was my first attempt at healthy brownie bites and they were scrumptious. I couldn’t just eat one… hehe.

What you need:

10 pitted dates

2 tbsp cocoa

1 tbsp heated coconut oil

2 tbsp walnuts

Mix all ingredients in a blender. If the dates are hard soak them in hot water first to soften. The hot coconut oil should also help soften the mixture. Once blended, form into inch size balls and put in the fridge to set.

I was in my usual Sunday baking mood and decided to bake some treats for my colleagues yesterday. The men devoured them within minutes and refused to share any with other members of the larger project team. These are very easy to make and a great treat for all those chocolate lovers.

What you need:

2 cups mini marshmallows

2 cups rice krispies

2 sticks of butter

5 mars bars

1 cup of chocolate chips

Melt the butter, marshmallows and mars bars over medium heat in a large pot. After the mixture is fully melted, stir in the rice krispies. Pour into a large baking dish and spread the chocolate chips over the top. Leave to cool in the fridge over night.

Okay so this isn’t technically baking.. then again you do have to bake the sweet potato nachos and I just couldn’t resist sharing this recipe with you!

Slice the sweet potatoes into very fine coin sized pieces. Add some coconut oil and bake in the oven at 450degrees for 25 minutes. Keep an eye out to make sure they don’t burn, and be sure to turn them half way through.

So I made it to the finish line!! My first 30day fit challenge is done and dusted and although I had some missteps along the way, boy do I feel wonderful. Energizing my body with wholefoods really gives me a great boost of energy and happiness. What I’ve learned, is that dieting is not always the best option. Most people just can’t tolerate strict diet restrictions for too long, hence why many diets fail.

I’ve learned more about my body and by eating to fuel my body makes me feel beautiful from the inside out. Regular exercise is a great way to boost mood, as the body release chemicals called endorphins. Processed foods, refined sugars and carbohydrates, make me feel ill, bloated, tired and heavy. I think from now I’ll try to stick to the 80/20 rule. 80% of the foods I eat will be natural wholefoods. I will only eat when I’m hungry and I will never eat until I’m uncomfortably full.

All in all, I’ve had a few setbacks, but I’m happy with my progress. I stuck to my exercise routine even when my diet fell through. Depriving yourself will only lead to bingeing… I’m proof of that! Moderation is key – in eating and possibly more importantly, in your thinking.

New studio numero dos. I jumped on the streetcar straight after work and headed over to King West’s Studio Lagree to try out M3: Fusion.

Studio Lagree

Address: 788 King Street West

Star Rating: 4.5 stars

Cost: Initial class $17, single class $32, or class packages offered.

Length: 50 minutes

Type of Activity: Think of a pilates reformer on crack. This class involves a megaformer and every single muscle in your body. The machines use a system of springs and pulleys to alter resistance and difficulty levels. Various contraptions come into play targeting specific muscles in the body. Exercises include various planking, squats, arm movements and lunges while focusing on core stability.

The Verdict: A heart pumping, full body workout with a complete mix of exercises that emphasizes core stability. Think of a pilates reformer on steroids. Low impact workout tones the whole body. Although it is rather pricey, it is the workout of many celebs such as Jennifer Aniston and Nicole Kidman. This class is definitely not for everyone, especially if you aren’t a regular at the gym. I really enjoyed the stretch at the end of class but because of the price I’m not sure if I’ll make it a regular on my workout schedule.

Cost: Free Conditioning Trial or $30 to drop in or month to month memberships

Length: 50 minutes

Type of Activity: Strength and conditioning classes which include but are not limited to high intensity intervals, resistance training, strength training, and team workouts. Fuel focuses on lifestyle specific training vs. competition training. If you’re not comfortable or injured, they’ll provide a modified exercise without judgment. Workouts are fun; results oriented and programmed to keep your body improving. Exercises are carefully balanced to decrease risk (injury) and increase reward (results).

The Verdict: I was sold after just 1 conditioning class! I have bought a month to month membership that allows me to attend 12 sessions each month. The club owner, instructors and club members are all very personable. The trainers are knowledgeable and offer proper technique. The community that Fuel has built is incomparable to any other gym experience; with social events hosted monthly, the group is fun and supportive. The studio is clean and I love the small group format. It’s fairly pricey compared to a regular gym membership but essentially you receive small group personal training sessions. I think it’ll be well worth it! Also included is a Fuel Plan (offered every 3 months) – this is where they record body fat, measurements and weight in order to set goals and track progress.

I plan on attending 3 classes a week, while also alternating between spin classes, sprints, and stair climbing. I may even check out some more fitness studios in my area and I’ll be sure to give you the 411. I can’t wait to see how my body changes over the next few months.

Today was my rest day. One type of exercise I have neglected since the beginning of my 30day Fit Challenge is hot yoga. I’ve only ever done it a few times in my life but every time I do I absolutely love it. This evening when I got home from class I decided to practice some chatarungas. My yogi friend recommended I start with just 10 in the morning and 10 in the evening, and I’ll soon see improvement in upper body strength.

Click here to watch Amy Schneider of Cleveland Yoga for how to do a proper chatarunga.

One of the biggest mistakes people make with their workouts is to do the exact same thing every time, and then wonder why they don’t see results. So shake things up, by varying the intensity, speed, incline or even exercise. Try sprints one day, a long distance run another, and weight training another.

Saying that, I went back to a spin class for the second day in a row… haha.